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Many of us have picked up at least one bizarre CD or LP in our audiophile careers. Tell us what you've found

The courtship between two music-retailing giants is over. <A HREF="http://www.cdnow.com/">CDnow</A&gt; and <A HREF="http://www.columbiahouse.com/">Columbia House</A> have decided to call off a merger that had been in <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/10496/">discussion</A&gt; since last summer. The official explanation from executives close to the deal was a sharp decline in Columbia House's profitability over the past several months.

On day two of Revel's early-March press junket, <I>Stereophile</I> and <I>Guide to Home Theater</I> writers and editors were treated to a discussion and demonstration of some superb audio and video equipment at Kevin Voecks' spacious home in the San Fernando Valley. Voecks spoke at length about the extensive research his company has done on the perceived realism of reproduced sound, under the leadership of Dr. Floyd Toole.

As the boundaries between audio, video, and information technologies continue to blur, so will the corporate boundaries between <A HREF="http://www.sel.sony.com">Sony Electronics</A>' audio, video, and information-technology divisions. Last week, Sony announced the creation of a new organization that the company says integrates its A/V and IT companies into one overall "Consumer Electronics Group," or "CEG." Sony adds that the new structure combines the company's Consumer Products Marketing Group and its Personal Network Solutions Company into one organization. Fujio Nishida was named president of CEG; the new organization will become effective April 1.

Last week, the <A HREF="http://www.emplive.com">Experience Music Project</A>, described as an "interactive museum devoted to creativity and innovation in American popular music," announced that it will open its doors to the public on Friday, June 23, 2000, in Seattle, Washington, with a multi-day celebration featuring events in and around the museum, and live performances by a wide variety of musicians. EMP said it expects more than a million visitors during the course of its first year.

This is an era in which products and websites are "launched," but in the past two years Herron Audio has sort of <I>oozed</I> its way into the public ear. With little visible promotion or splashy advertising, Herron is now spoken of within an ever-widening audiophile circle.

<B>GUY CLARK: <I>Cold Dog Soup</I></B><BR> Sugar Hill Sug-CD-1063 (CD). 1999. Chris Latham, prod., eng.; Guy Clark, Verlon Thompson, Darrell Scott, prods. AAD. TT: 40:44<BR> Performance <B>*****</B><BR> Sonics <B>****?</B>